Retinyl Palmitate (Ingredient Explained + Products)

Retinoids (AKA Vitamin A) help with signs of aging by simulating new cell production and getting rid of old skin cells.

Oily Skin is determined by your genetics, but can also be influenced by factors such as stress levels, changing hormonal levels, and humidity.

The most common cause of textured skin is a build up of dead skin cells. The easiest way to get rid of textured skin is to exfoliate and give your skin the proper nutrients.

Pores are tiny openings in the skin that release sweat and oil. Everyone has them, and it’s completely normal for them to be visible. While factors like excess oil, acne, sun damage, and even genetics can make pores appear larger, these ingredients may help minimize their appearance. Just keep in mind: you can’t erase pores entirely, and that’s okay!

Helps with Anti-Aging

As we age, factors like reduced oil production, collagen breakdown, UV exposure, and lifestyle choices all affect how our skin looks and feels. While we can’t stop the aging process, ingredients like retinoids, antioxidants, and certain peptides have been shown to help slow visible signs of aging.

Helps with Dark Spots

These ingredients are known for their brightening properties, helping to even out skin tone and reduce the look of dark spots or dullness.

Good for Scar Healing

These ingredients are commonly used to support the skin’s natural healing process and improve the appearance of scars over time. While results can vary, they may help with texture, discoloration, and overall skin recovery.

May feed Fungal Acne

These ingredients are considered potential triggers for fungal acne, but not everyone will react to them. Because fungal acne can be tricky to identify and manage, it’s best to consult a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

These ingredients are known to be potential triggers for rosacea, but not everyone with rosacea will react the same way. Because rosacea-prone skin can be especially reactive, it’s best to approach new products with caution. Please consult a dermatologist for personalized guidance.

Retinyl palmitate is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the superstar class of anti-aging ingredients that include tretinoin and retinol.

This particular ingredient has had a bumpy year with its rise and fall in popularity.

First, Retinyl palmitate is created from palmitic acid and retinol. It is a retinol ester and considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid.

This is because all retinoids have to be converted to Tretinoin, AKA retinoic acid. Retinyl Palmitate is pretty far down the line and has to go through multiple conversions before its effects are seen.

Due to this long and ineffective conversion line, the benefits of Retinyl Palmitate are debated.

Studies show Retinyl Palmitate to help:

reduce inflammation
stimulate collagen production
prohibit cell apoptosis, or self-collapse
help thicken the epidermal for extra protection against UV-B rays
protect our cells as an antioxidant

Dermatologists say this ingredient is ineffective because it isn't used in high enough concentrations in cosmetics.

This ingredient used to be found in sunscreens to boost the efficacy of sunscreen filters.

The downfall of Retinyl Palmitate was due to released reports about the ingredient being correlated to sun damage and skin tumors.

While there is a study showing this ingredient to cause DNA damage when exposed to UV-A, there is no concrete proof of it being linked to skin cancer. It is safe to use when used correctly.

All retinoids increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun in the first few months of usage. Be especially careful with reapplying sunscreen when using any form of retinoid.

Currently, this ingredient is still allowed in cosmetics all over the world. In Canada, cosmetics must have a warning label stating the product to contain Retinyl Palmitate

Fun fact: This ingredient is often added to low-fat milk to increase the levels of Vitamin A.